Radioactivity

Question 1

What can ionising radiation do?

Answer 1

It can remove electrons from atoms to form ions

Question 2

What can be caused by gamma ray exposure?

Answer 2

Cell mutations which can cause cancer and destroy cells

Question 3

What cakes an atomic nucleus stable?

Answer 3

If it does not change or break down

Question 4

What do unstable nuclei emit?

Answer 4

They can emit aloe and beta particles, neutrons and electromagnetic radiation such as grammar rays

Question 5

What makes a substance radioactive?

Answer 5

If they contain unstable atoms

Question 6

What is the electric charge of alpha, beta and grammar rays

Answer 6

Alpha - +2
Beta - -1
Gamma - 0

Question 7

What is background radiation and what are some examples?

Answer 7

It is all around us, some comes from natural sources and others from artificial. Some natural sources include -cosmic rays
- rocks and soil
- living things

Question 8

What reads radiation?

Answer 8

Geiger - Mullen (GM) tube

Question 9

What radiation is the most ionising?

Answer 9

Alpha

Question 10

What radiation can travel the furthest?

Answer 10

Gamma

Question 11

What happens in alpha decay?

Answer 11

The mass number decreases by 4
The atomic number decreases by 2
The nuclear charge decreases by 2

Question 12

What happens in beta decay?

Answer 12

A neutron changes into a proton and a high energy electron
The proton stays in the nucleus by the electron leaves
The mass number stays the same
The atomic number increases by 1
The nuclear charge increases by 1

Question 13

What happens in gamma decay?

Answer 13

They are a type of electromagnetic radiation so there is no change in mass or charge
It transfers energy from the nucleus
Too much energy in the nucleus so it releases gamma radiation

Question 14

What is half life?

Answer 14

The time it takes for a sample to decay

Question 15

What does radioactive decay do?

Answer 15

It reduces the number of unstable nucleus

Question 16

What is nuclear fission?

Answer 16

Another work for splitting an atom
The process of splitting a nucleus is called nuclear fission

Question 17

What is nuclear fusion?

Answer 17

The combining of an atom

Question 18

Why would you use fusion?

Answer 18

• abundant fuels
• clean
• safe
• less radioactive waste
• no weapon material produced

Question 19

What do control rods absorb?

Answer 19

Neutrons

Question 20

What are safety issues of a nuclear reactor?

Answer 20

Needs to be shielded to prevent radiation leaking out
Radioactive gas and dust needs to be contained
Used file can contain highly active decay products with long half lives

Question 21

What are some protection methods?

Answer 21

Dense materials
Don’t build houses near by
Stable enviroment
high security

Question 22

What is irradiation and what can it do?

Answer 22

Exposing objects to beams of radiation
This can damage cells
Can be used for sterilising medical equipment
Not radioactive after exposure

Question 23

What is contamination?

Answer 23

It occurs if an object has a radioactive material introduced to it
Once contaminated the radiation cannot be blocked